Drain installation kit

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a drain installation kit adapted to maintain alignment of the center of a sloping floor aperture with the center of a drain throughout the construction process. In a preferred embodiment, the kit includes an upper flange that is rigidly connectable to a drain base and multiple sloping guide bars that are rigidly connectable in a radial fashion to the upper flange. A user can use this preferred embodiment by assembling it, adding cementitious material between the guide bars, and making an upper surface of the cementitious material flush with a top edge of the guide bars. Embodiments of the present invention provide a variety of advantages over conventional drain installation kits. For example, many embodiments provide improved functionality, many embodiments are easier for do-it-yourselfers to use, and many embodiments can be manufactured more efficiently.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/884,124, filed Jan. 9, 2007, which ishereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to construction techniques and, moreparticularly, to constructing sloped concrete floors.

BACKGROUND

Many skilled craftspersons can construct sloped floors (e.g., made ofconcrete) using techniques that are well-known in the field. Slopedfloors are often desirable for draining water or other liquids. However,even the most skilled craftsperson can have trouble reproducing thesame, evenly sloped floor on all occasions. A floor that is unevenlysloped, sloped too steeply, or conversely, not steeply enough, can drainpoorly and/or be uncomfortable to walk on. For example, an unevenlysloped shower pan can drain poorly and can be uncomfortable for a personto stand on.

Do-it-yourselfers sometimes desire to install sloped surfaces withoutthe expense of hiring a skilled craftsperson. A drain installation kitcan help an unskilled person construct a sloped surface leading to adrain, such as a shower pan. A conventional drain, once assembled,usually includes a number of components. Although an unskilled personmay be able to assemble the needed parts, constructing an evenly slopedfloor having an aperture for the drain can be more challenging. Someinstallation kits include a number of sloped form members that can bepositioned radially around the center of the drain to assist in aligningthe center of the sloping floor aperture with the center of the drain.

Unfortunately, form members in such conventional kits can beinadvertently moved during the construction process, meaning that thecenter of the sloping floor aperture can become misaligned from thecenter of the drain. Such misalignment can result in improper drainage,which can lead to water pooling and other adverse effects. Waterpooling, in particular, can lead to structural damage, microorganismincubation, and is at least aesthetically displeasing.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a drain installation kit adapted tomaintain alignment of the center of a sloping floor aperture with thecenter of a drain throughout the construction process. In a preferredembodiment, the kit includes an upper flange that is rigidly connectableto a drain base and multiple sloping guide bars that are rigidlyconnectable in a radial fashion to the upper flange. A user can use thispreferred embodiment by assembling it, adding cementitious materialbetween the guide bars, and making an upper surface of the cementitiousmaterial flush with a top edge of the guide bars.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide significant functionaladvantages over conventional drain installation kits. In someembodiments, the drain installation kit allows for greater adjustabilityof the height of the drain plate housing than in conventional drainkits. In some embodiments, the drain installation kit provides a fixedattachment point while still providing adjustability of the drain platehousing height, whereas attachment points in conventional draininstallation kits are fixed only when the drain plate housing isadjusted tightly downwards in order to sandwich the attachment pointsagainst the drain assembly. In some embodiments, the drain installationkit provides independent and unconnected attachment points for eachguide bar, so that movement of one guide bar does not automatically moveanother guide bar as in conventional drain installation kits. Some guidebar embodiments can provide a greater degree of stability, therebyinhibiting any tendency of the guide bar to tilt.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide similar functionalityas conventional drain installation kits, but with substantially greaterease for the unskilled person. In some embodiments, the draininstallation kit allows the construction of a concrete floor with aconsistent slope. In such embodiments, the construction can besubstantially performed without skilled labor. In some embodiments, thedrain installation kit allows the construction of a sloping floorwithout regard to the dimensions or shape of the installation area. Insome embodiments, the drain installation kit allows for an extension ofa sloped surface by combining multiple instances of the same component,wherein conventional drain kits, specially designed extension componentswere required. In some embodiments, the drain installation kit centrallyanchors sloping guide bars without additional structure used inconventional drain kits.

Some embodiments of the present invention can be manufacturedsignificantly more efficiently. In some embodiments, the draininstallation kit is less expensive to produce because it includes fewercomponents than conventional installation kits. Some guide barembodiments can be manufactured more uniformly and/or using lessmaterial, while maintaining sufficient structural integrity. Additionaladvantages provided by some embodiments of the present invention will beapparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of thepresent invention and therefore do not limit the scope of the invention.The drawings are not to scale (unless so stated) and are intended foruse in conjunction with the explanations in the following detaileddescription. Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likenumerals denote like elements.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view depicting an illustrative drain installationwith a plurality of illustrative guide bars having their respectiveleading ends attached to an upper flange;

FIG. 2 a is a side elevational view of an illustrative guide bar;

FIG. 2 b is a side elevational view of an illustrative guide bar;

FIG. 2 c is a side elevational view of an illustrative guide bar;

FIG. 3 a is a top plan view of a shower drain and adjacent flooringbuilt in accordance with an illustrative drain installation kit;

FIG. 3 b is a top plan view of the illustrative shower drain of FIG. 3 awithout the adjacent flooring;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational, partially sectional view of the partsdepicted in FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an illustrative upper flange;

FIG. 6 a is a perspective view depicting the trailing and leading endsof illustrative guide bars;

FIG. 6 b is a side elevational view depicting the joinder of twoillustrative guide bars;

FIG. 6 c is a top plan view of the illustrative guide bars depicted inFIG. 6 b;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an illustrative drain installation made byinterconnecting multiple guide bars together in end-to-end relation toone another;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one illustrative drain installation kitapplication;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational, sectional view of one illustrative draininstallation kit application; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one illustrative drain installation kitapplication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of theinvention in any way. Rather, the following description providespractical illustrations for implementing exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention. Constructions, materials, dimensions, andmanufacturing processes suitable for making embodiments of the presentare known to those of skill in the field of the invention. Those skilledin the art will recognize that many of the examples provided havesuitable alternatives that can be utilized.

Throughout the following description, the term recess is used to denotean opening. Recess is used to describe both openings that extendpartially through a surface and openings that may extend fully through asurface. Moreover, as used in this description, an object's heightrefers generally to its extent in direction T of FIGS. 2 b-2 c, anobject's length refers generally to its extent in direction L of FIGS. 2b-2 c, and an object's width refers generally to its extent in directionW of FIG. 3 a.

FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of an illustrative assembled draininstallation kit 10. A drain installation kit can include a plurality ofguide bars 12, having their respective leading ends 13 detachablyattached to an illustrative upper flange 14 about a drain plate 18.Their respective trailing ends 15 can abut an upstanding wall 16 thatdefines the outermost boundaries of the shower, swimming pool, or othersloped floor to be constructed. Guide bars 12 are often supported by asubstantially flat support surface 11, which, in one embodiment, wouldbe the slab of the structure within which the sloped surface is beingbuilt.

Embodiments of a drain installation kit are not restricted to slopedfloors of rectangular configuration only. The guide bars 12 may be usedto build sloped floors of any predetermined geometric configuration. Forexample, a guide bar 12 may be cut at any location along the lengththereof to conform it to the size of a space having an extent less thanthe length of an uncut guide bar 12, and the leading end 13 of one ormore additional guide bars may be attached to the trailing end 15 of oneor more installed guide bars to enable use of the guide bars in spaceshaving an extent greater than the length of a single guide bar.

FIG. 2 a shows an illustrative guide bar 12 that has a height extent atits leading end 13 that is less than its height extent as its trailingend 15. Accordingly, when its bottom wall or bottom edge 17 rests atopthe substantially flat support surface 11 and when its leading end 13 isattached to the upper flange 14, the top wall or top edge 19 of theguide bar will be disposed relative to a horizontal plane at apredetermined angular slope defined by the height difference. In someembodiments, the guide bar 12 may have a trailing projection 44 whichextends from its trailing end 15 as shown in FIG. 2 a. In additionalembodiments, the guide bar 12 can have a leading projection 46, whichextends from its leading end 13 as shown in FIG. 2 a.

The openings 42 of FIG. 2 a are defined by trusses, which comprise thesupport structure of the guide bars 12. Guide bars with truss supportstructures are often made of a smaller quantity of material, whilemaintaining sufficient structural integrity. The smaller quantity ofmaterial often leads to a guide bar that is less expensive tomanufacture and lighter, making it easier for an installer to handle. Insome instances, the openings 42 in each guide bar 12 enhance the bondbetween the guide bar and a suitable cementitious mixture that is usedto form the sloped floor. The illustrative openings 42 depicted in FIG.2 a advantageously allow more cementitious mixture to pass through theguide bar 12 than in conventional drain kits, providing for a strongerbond than in conventional applications.

In many instances, guide bars with truss support structures can bemanufactured more uniformly. The cross-sectional area of each of thetrusses can be approximately equal. In guide bars made of plastic, everytruss having approximately equal cross-sectional areas can finishcooling at roughly the same time, thereby minimizing imperfections(e.g., bending and/or cracking due to stress). This provides a distinctadvantage over support structures that define circular openings.

FIGS. 2 b and 2 c show additional embodiments of the guide bar 12 inwhich the openings 42 of FIG. 2 a can be replaced and/or supplemented byadditional structural features. For example, FIGS. 2 b and 2 c showembodiments in which the guide bar 12 can have one or more openings 118in its bottom edge 17 or top edge 19. In embodiments in which the bottomedge 17 has openings 118, the bottom edge 17 would not be supportedalong its entire extent by the slab 11. In embodiments in which the topedge has openings 118, cementitious mixture would not be made flush withthe entire top edge 19 of the guide bar 12 when added. These openings118 allow for additional cementitious mixture to pass through the guidebar 12, thus strengthening the bond between the mixture and the guidebar 12. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the openings 118can take a variety of shapes and configurations, and are not limited tothose shown in the embodiments present here. For example, both thebottom edge 17 and the top edge 19 may contain the openings 118. In someembodiments, the width of the bottom edge 17 can be greater than that ofthe top edge 19, thereby increasing the stability of the guide bar 12.

FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, and 4 show one illustrative drain installation kitassembled with components of a drain assembly 22. A conventional drainassembly can include a drain pipe 24, a drain base 25 with a drain baseflange 28, and an upper flange. FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, and 4 show theconventional upper flange replaced by one embodiment of the upper flange14 included with an illustrative drain installation kit. As with aconventional drain assembly, the illustrative upper flange 14 can besecured to the drain base flange 28 by a plurality of screws 20. Theupper flange 14 is internally threaded and threadedly receives anexternally threaded conventional post 30. The post 30 is integrallyformed with a housing 32, which receives a drain plate 18.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b further show the leading end of one guide bar 12attached directly to the upper flange 14. In the embodiment depicted,the upper flange 14 has multiple attachment points, which in thisembodiment include a plurality of flange recesses 34. The flangerecesses 34 can be adapted to receive a portion of a member (e.g., apin, a screw, a bolt, a nail, or other similar members). Each guide barcan have a leading projection 46 as shown in FIG. 2( a)-(c). A guide barrecess 52 can pass through the leading projection from top to bottom,for receiving the member. FIG. 3 b shows one embodiment where a guidebar 12 is detachably attached to the upper flange 14, with guide barrecess 52 aligned with flange recess 34.

As is known, attachment of the guide bar 12 to the upper flange 14 canbe achieved in a variety of ways, and is not limited solely to theembodiment described above. Although a detachable attachment may bepreferable in some applications where the guide bar may need to berepositioned, the attachment need not be detachable. The guide bar maybe permanently attached to the upper flange, especially in applicationswhere the guide bar 12 can be left in place after it has been attached.The guide bar 12 may similarly be permanently attached in a variety ofways, as is known in the art. As just one example, the guide bar may bepermanently attached with an adhesive. Additionally, in someapplications, the upper flange 14 may not be necessary, and the guidebar 12 may be attached directly to a conventional upper flange includedin a conventional drain assembly.

FIG. 4 shows a side elevational view of an illustrative guide bar 12attached to the upper flange 14. The leading projection 46 of the guidebar 12 sits atop the upper flange 14 and is detachably attached to theupper flange 14 in accordance with the description provided above. Inone illustrative embodiment, the leading projection 46 extends inwardlytowards the drain only as far as the edge of the drain plate 18. Whenall guide bars are attached in such a manner, space is maintainedbetween the upper flange 14 and the housing 32. The space in thisembodiment allows the height of the drain plate to be freely adjustedwithout interference from the guide bars 12 or any other part of thedrain installation kit. In this way, the drain plate 18 can bepositioned without regard to the structure that attaches the guide bars12 to the upper flange 14. In an illustrative embodiment, the height ofthe drain plate 18 is adjusted after the cementitious mixture is added,but before it dries. Being able to adjust the position of the drainplate 18 at this time can be important in order to make the tile and thedrain plate 18 as level as possible.

FIG. 5 shows one embodiment of an upper flange 14 configured for use inthe embodiments depicted in FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, and 4. The upper flange 14in this embodiment has multiple flange recesses 34 radially spaced abouta center drain opening 35. The drain opening 35 can be configured toreceive the conventional post 30 and drain plate housing 32 shown inFIG. 4. In the embodiment shown, the drain opening 35 includes partialinternal threading 36 for threadedly receiving a corresponding post. Theupper flange 14 may be attached to the drain base 25 of FIG. 4 with thescrews 20 previously described inserted through one or more openings 37on the upper flange 14. Weep holes 38 may also be included in the upperflange to allow moisture to seep down into the drain.

FIG. 6 a shows one embodiment of a connection between multiple guidebars 12, 112. In the embodiment shown, a trailing projection 44 extendsfrom the trailing end 15 of one guide bar 12. A guide bar recess 54 canpass through the trailing projection 44 from top to bottom, forreceiving a member 56. An additional guide bar 112 has a leadingprojection 46 with a guide bar recess 52. The member 56 can join theguide bars 12, 112 when it is inserted into both guide bar recesses 52,54. Each guide bar 12, 112 can have the same predetermined slope, withthe trailing and leading projections dimensioned and placed to maintaina substantially even slope from the leading end of one guide bar,through the joinder of the bars, and extending to the trailing end of asecond guide bar.

FIG. 6 b shows a side elevational view in which two of the sameillustrative guide bars 12 are connected together in one embodiment toextend a predetermined slope. The guide bars 12 are positioned so thatthe guide bar recess 52 in the first guide bar's leading projection 46is aligned with the guide bar recess 54 in the second guide bar'strailing projection 44. In this embodiment, the corresponding guide barrecesses can align along axis 50, and a pin or other suitable member canbe inserted to secure both guide bars together. FIG. 6 c shows a topplan view of the guide bars in FIG. 6 b. In some embodiments, the firstguide bar 12 is unsupported along its bottom edge 17 by the slab 11. Insome instances, cementitious material can be added to the space betweenthe bottom edge 17 and the support surface to assist the respectivemembers and upstanding wall in maintaining the first guide bar inposition. In some embodiments, a shim made from some kind of scrap(e.g., wood, drywall, etc.) can rest on top of the slab and provideadditional support to the bottom edge 17.

FIG. 7 shows the use of multiple guide bars 12 enabling the building oflarger sloped floors. An illustrative drain installation kit may haveany number of guide bars 12, which can be connected as needed to extendthe overall effective length of a single guide bar 12. In addition, anyguide bar 12 can also be cut to a shorter length whenever required. Inmost embodiments, the top surface of the leading end 13 of an additionalguide bar is positioned at a height substantially equal to the height ofthe top surface of the trailing end 15 of a guide bar 12 to which it isconnected, in linear or end-to-end relation.

With reference to FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, and 4, to install one illustrativedrain kit, the drain pipe housing 32 is first unscrewed from aconventional drain assembly and the illustrative upper flange 14 isattached in place of the conventional upper flange. The respectiveleading ends 13 of the guide bars 12 are then secured to the drain byattaching the leading projection 46 of each guide bar to the upperflange 14. The guide bars are attached by aligning each leadingprojection guide bar recess 52 with a respective flange recess 34 of theupper flange 14 and inserting a pin or other suitable member. The heightof the drain plate 18 can then be adjusted to a desired height dependingupon the thickness of the surface 21, to provide a flush joint with thesurface. Additional guide bars 12 can be used if required by theapplication. For example, additional guide bars 12 can be used if thesloped floor is oversized (relative to the length of guide bars 12) asdepicted in FIG. 7 or if the sloped floor has an “L”-shaped or otherrelatively unusual geometric configuration.

When all guide bars have been installed, the cementitious mixture (e.g.,mud) is introduced into the area bordered by upstanding side walls 16and divided by the upstanding guide bars and the cementitious mixture isspread throughout the area, including within the opening maintainedbetween the housing 32 and the upper flange 14, which solidly securesthe drain plate housing 32 once the cementitious mixture dries. Thecementitious mixture is spread flush with the top edge 19 of each guidebar 12 along its extent. Excess cementitious mixture is removed and thesurface is smoothed by conventional, well-known concrete workingtechniques. The surface 21, such as tiling, is then installed atop arelatively thin layer of cementitious material that overlies thecementitious mixture in the well-known way and the drain plate 18 isfinally adjusted before the cementitious mixture dries in order toprovide a flush joint between the top of the drain plate and the surface21. When the surface 21 is tiling, the job is completed by filling thecracks between the tiles with grout in the well-known way. In this way,the center of the radially-positioned guide bars 12 can be nearlyperfectly aligned with the center of the drain. Misalignment can lead towater pooling, and pooling can be aesthetically displeasing and cancause structural damage.

It should be apparent that an unskilled laborer can measure the guidebars 12 and cut them to length if required, or connect additional guidebars and cut them to length if required, and position the guide barsatop the slab 11 with the respective leading ends 13 thereof secured tothe upper flange 14. No special skills are then required to introduce acementitious mixture into the area bounded by the upstanding walls 16and to smooth the cementitious material until it is flush with at leastpart of the guide bars' top edges, thereby ensuring an optimal slope inthe finished sloping floor. In this way, sloping floors are provided inshowers or other rooms having floors that slope to a drain, swimmingpools, and the like. Significantly, the slope will be duplicated eachtime the drain installation kit is used and the steps of installationare followed, even if the sloping floor is built by unskilled laborers.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a drain installation kit. The guidebars 12 in this embodiment can be attached directly to support surface11 to provide a sloped surface leading to an aperture 60 in the supportsurface 11. Each illustrative guide bar can include a guide bar recess62 which can pass through the leading end 13 of each guide bar 12. Theguide bars 12 can be positioned radially about the aperture 60 asdesired and attached to the support surface 11 by inserting a pin orother suitable member through the guide bar recess 62 and connecting itwith the support surface. For example, a nail can be inserted into theguide bar recess 62 and driven into the support surface 11. As those inthe art will appreciate, the attachment can be detachable or may not bedetachable. Cementitious material can then be spread in between theguide bars to form a sloped surface leading to the aperture 60.

FIG. 9 shows one embodiment of an installed drain kit similar to theembodiment depicted in FIG. 8. The guide bars 12 can be positionedaround an aperture 60, which in one embodiment can be a sump well. Theguide bars 12 can be attached to the support surface 11 in accordancewith the description provided above, and a sloped surface can beconstructed with cementitious mixture in the usual way.

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of an installed drain kit. The guidebars 12 in this embodiment can be positioned in a substantially parallelformation 68. In this embodiment, the trailing edge 15 of each guide bar12 can be attached to a support wall 66. A cementitious mixture can bespread in between and flush with the guide bars 12 to form a sloped,substantially planar surface. An outer surface, such as tiling, can beinstalled atop the substantially planar surface in the usual way. Uponcomplete installation, this embodiment advantageously provides a sloped,substantially planar drain for urging water away from the support wall66. As seen in FIG. 10, this embodiment can be implemented around thefoundation of a building 72. In addition, the illustrative guide barscan also be positioned in a radial formation 70, which as shown in FIG.10, can be used to create a drain surface around the corner of thebuilding 72.

Embodiments of the present invention may include one or more of thefollowing features. The upper flange may be configured to connect to adrain plate housing. In some drain installation kits, the upper flangemay be internally threaded in order to threadedly receive a drain platehousing. The multiple attachment points on the upper flange may beradially spaced about the center of the upper flange. In someembodiments, the attachment points include flange recesses formed withina surface of the upper flange. The flange recesses may extend partiallythrough the upper flange. In some embodiments, the flange recessesextend fully through the upper flange. Some embodiments have an upperflange with cylindrically formed flange recesses capable of receiving acylindrically shaped pin. Some drain installation kits have guide barswith a protrusion that can be inserted into a flange recess on the upperflange. Some guide bars have a guide bar recess capable of receiving amember. In some embodiments, the guide bar recess may extend partiallyand/or fully through the guide bar. In some embodiments, the multipleattachment points on the upper flange may include protrusions that canextend into a guide bar recess in the guide bar. Some guide bars aredimensioned so that they do not obstruct the movement of an adjustabledrain plate housing when they are attached to the upper flange. In somedrain installation kits, the first ends of the guide bars aresubstantially fixed with respect to the drain base when attached to theupper flange. In some embodiments, the guide bars are positioned so asto create a substantially planar drain surface. The support structure ofsome guide bar embodiments can be trusses. Some drain installation kitshave guide bars which are positioned so as to urge water away from acentral area. In some embodiments, the width of a guide bar's bottomedge is greater than that of its top edge.

Thus, embodiments of a drain installation kit are disclosed. One skilledin the art will appreciate that the drain installation kit can bepracticed with embodiments other than those disclosed. The disclosedembodiments are presented for purposes of illustration only and notlimitation.

1. A drain installation kit for constructing a sloped floor that is madeof cementitious material and adapted to drain liquid into a drain, thekit comprising: a plurality of guide bars, each guide bar having aleading end and a trailing end, the leading end (a) being configured torigidly connect to an upper flange that is rigidly connected to a drainbase and (b) having a smaller height than the trailing end; andinstructions for using the drain installation kit.
 2. The draininstallation kit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of membersadapted to assist in rigidly connecting the guide bars to the upperflange.
 3. The drain installation kit of claim 2, wherein each guide barhas a guide bar recess, and each member is adapted to be insertedpartially into the guide bar recess and partially into one of aplurality of flange recesses of the upper flange.
 4. The draininstallation kit of claim 2, wherein the members are pins.
 5. The draininstallation kit of claim 1, wherein each guide bar includes top andbottom edges, the bottom edge being wider than the top edge.
 6. Thedrain installation kit of claim 1, wherein each guide bar includestrusses that define a plurality of openings adapted to allowcementitious material to pass through the guide bar.
 7. The draininstallation kit of claim 1, wherein the trailing end of a first of theplurality of guide bars is configured to connect with the leading end ofa second of the plurality of guide bars.
 8. The drain installation kitof claim 7, wherein the first guide bar includes a first top edgeextending at a first angular slope between the leading and trailing endsof the first guide bar and the second guide bar includes a second topedge extending at a second angular slope between the leading andtrailing ends of the second guide bar, the first angular slope beingsubstantially equal to the second angular slope.
 9. The draininstallation kit of claim 1, wherein, when a drain plate housing isadjustably connected to the upper flange, the rigid connection betweenthe guide bars and the upper flange does not obstruct adjustment of theheight of the drain plate housing.
 10. A method of assisting a user inconstructing a sloped floor that is made of cementitious material andadapted to drain liquid into a drain, comprising: providing a draininstallation kit that includes a plurality of guide bars, each guide barhaving a leading end and a trailing end, the leading end having asmaller height than the trailing end; and instructing the user to: (a)install a drain base within a support area, (b) rigidly connect an upperflange to the drain base, (c) position at least some of the plurality ofguide bars radially about the drain base, (d) rigidly connect the atleast some of the plurality of guide bars to the upper flange, (e) addcementitious material to the support area, and (f) make an upper surfaceof the cementitious material flush with the top edges of the pluralityof guide bars.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein instructing the userto rigidly connect one of the plurality of guide bars to the upperflange comprises instructing the user to insert a member partially intoa flange recess of the upper flange and partially into a guide barrecess of the guide bar.
 12. The method of claim 10, further comprisinginstructing a user to optionally connect the leading end of at least oneguide bar to the trailing end of at least one of the guide bars that isto be rigidly connected to the upper flange.
 13. The method of claim 10,further comprising instructing a user to connect a drain plate housingto the upper flange and to adjust the height of the drain plate housing,wherein the rigid connection between the guide bars and the upper flangedoes not obstruct adjustment of the height of the drain plate housing.14. A drain installation kit for constructing a sloped floor that ismade of cementitious material and adapted to drain liquid into a drain,the kit comprising: a drain base configured to be installed in a supportarea; an upper flange having a plurality of attachment points, the upperflange being configured to rigidly connect to the drain base; a drainplate housing adapted to connect to the upper flange, the height of thedrain plate housing when connected to the upper flange being adjustable;and a plurality of guide bars, each guide bar having a leading end and atrailing end, the leading end (a) being configured to rigidly connect tothe upper flange at any one of the plurality of attachment points and(b) having a smaller height than the trailing end.
 15. The draininstallation kit of claim 14, wherein the upper flange has a firstsurface and each of the plurality of attachment points includes a flangerecess formed in the first surface of the upper flange.
 16. The draininstallation kit of claim 15, wherein the flange recess extendspartially through the upper flange.
 17. The drain installation kit ofclaim 15, further comprising a plurality of members, wherein each guidebar includes a guide bar recess proximate the leading end and eachmember is configured to be partially inserted into one of the flangerecesses and partially into one of the guide bar recesses for rigidlyconnecting the leading end of the guide bar to the upper flange.
 18. Thedrain installation kit of claim 17, wherein the member is a pin.
 19. Thedrain installation kit of claim 15, where each guide bar includes aprotrusion proximate the leading end configured to be received withinone of the flange recesses for rigidly connecting the leading end of theguide bar to the upper flange.
 20. The drain installation kit of claim14, wherein the plurality of attachment points are spaced equidistantlyfrom the center of the upper flange.
 21. The drain installation kit ofclaim 14, wherein each guide bar includes top and bottom edges, thebottom edge being wider than the top edge.
 22. The drain installationkit of claim 14, wherein each guide bar defines a plurality of openingsadapted to allow cementitious material to pass through the guide bar.23. The drain installation kit of claim 22, each guide bar includes topand bottom edges and the top edge or the bottom edge has at least oneopening.
 24. The drain installation kit of claim 22, wherein each guidebar includes trusses that define at least some of the plurality ofopenings.
 25. The drain installation kit of claim 14, wherein thetrailing end of a first guide bar is configured to connect with theleading end of a second guide bar.
 26. The drain installation kit ofclaim 25, wherein the first guide bar includes a first top edgeextending at a first angular slope between the leading and trailing endsof the first guide bar and the second guide bar includes a second topedge extending at a second angular slope between the leading andtrailing ends of the second guide bar, the first angular slope beingsubstantially equal to the second angular slope.
 27. The draininstallation kit of claim 14, wherein the rigid connection between theguide bars and the upper flange does not obstruct adjustment of theheight of the drain plate housing.